The day started late, as I caught up on bit more sleep. After a shower and shave, I made my way to the included breakfast in the lobby restaurant and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of protein-packed choices, including eggs, sausages, a variety of cold meats and cheeses, fruits, muesli, yogurt, pastries (including my favorite ... croissant), and juices and of course good strong coffee.
A 45 minute train ride ($50 Euro round trip), put me in the downtown train station, one of two in Basel, and about a five-minute walk to the expo center. I missed the 11 a.m. press conference, but heard it wasn't much, and my absence allowed me to arrive early at the Baselworld sponsored luncheon. And it was a good thing too, because when the conference ended at about 12:15, the media descended on the multiple buffet lines like locusts, and suddenly there wasn't a place to stand or sit. I had a slice of quiche, broiled white fish in julienne vegetables, breaded chicken, and a tomato/mozzarella Caprese salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Washed down with a glass of white wine. All very delicious.
From there I checked out the media center, which the expo pointed out was newly designed and expanded for 2014. And good thing, too, because it's a proverbial media circus here, with every conceivable publication, from the well known to the "I just made it up last week." The media center is an oasis for the press, with wi-fi, printing capability, work stations, rest rooms, and a snack bar with complimentary beverages and snacks. Finger food is available at set times (breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea), and beverages are available, including the all important coffee, cappuccino, and espresso, until the center closes at 8:30 p.m.
I went exploring in two of the expo halls until my dogs started barking, and then went back to the media center for tea and snacks, and to catch up on emails.
I decided against the media party because it is off the Baselworld grounds, and besides I could not get the tram ticket dispenser to accept any of my credit cards. I did not wish to risk getting stuck in Basel due to missing the last train back to Freiburg. It's just as well because my dogs are barking pretty loudly by now anyway. I accomplished quite a bit today, and should take it easy and pace myself.
I saw media people here from all over, but lots of Europeans, and TONS of Asian folks, who are brandishing every conceivable form of high technology, including a couple of guys who are lugging around a "portable" video broadcast station (complete with spotlights) and are streaming live video from the show to God knows where.
I made contact with one additional company, Glycine, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, and finally convinced someone at Alpina to see me after a couple of unanswered email attempts starting more than a month ago.
I am back in my hotel room now, having arrived at the train station shortly after 8 p.m. and grabbing a sandwich, pastry, diet Coke, and a coffee from one of the train station restaurants. Not very glamorous, but it's too late for dinner out. There was a mob of people checking in tonight, so I must get up earlier tomorrow to avoid a crush at the breakfast buffet, and get to Basel earlier.
Sorry about no photos. I will try the hotel business center tomorrow and see if they have a computer with an SD drive.
Bruce
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